Fruit-grader.



G. 0 PARKER.

FRUIT- GRADER. APPLIVCATION man JULY 21, 1914.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

LEQQAQQ 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

IN VENTOR. Q M

I WITNESSES.- v WQW y y/i ATTORNEYS.

" -G. D. PARKER.

FRUIT GRADEB.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21.4914.

Patented Aug. 10, .1915

2 SHEETSSHEET,2.

3. (M BY A TTOR/VEYS rmrrEo STATES PATENT oEEioE.

GEORGE E. PARKER, or RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT- GRADER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE D. PARKER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Riverside, in the county ofRiverside and State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fruitgraders, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in fruit graders, andparticularly to a type of grader adapted for grading olives as to size.

The invention has for its principal objects to provide a fruit grader ofthe above type which occupies a minimum space and which is capable ofseparating the fruit to be treated into a number of grades; one in whichthe separated grades of fruit are conveyed'to separate places of depositand one in which the size of the separated grades of fruit may bevaried. Y

With the above mentioned and other objects in View, the inventionconsists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed, illustratedin the accompanying drawings and pointed out inthe claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes inthe form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within thescope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

To'more fully comprehend the invention, reference is directed to theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ofmy invention, disclosing thesuperimposed oppositcly inclined gradingrolls and the bins and conveyer-s beneath the same. Fig. 2 is a brokenend elevation taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view ofthe invention with a portion of certain of the directing members brokenaway to more fully disclose the sizing boards.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like characters ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the numerals l designate suitable base members on which are mounted thecorner standards 2 connected at their top by the top members and thewhole forming a supporting frame. I v

Rotatably mounted at thGlIOPPOSltG ends in bearings 4 carried by thesupporting Specification of Letters Patent.

rotatably mounted in bearings 9 has gearconnection with the upper endsof the rolls 5 of the lower set of rolls B and isrotated through a chainconnection 10 operated by the drive shaft 6 to rotate said lower set ofrolls in the-direction of the arrow.

Suitable grading members 11 extend longitudinally of and are positionedbetween the grading rolls 5 of each set and said members are arranged insets with each member of a length approximately one-half of the lengthof the rolls so that a'plurality of sizes of fruit may be graded by oneroll. The grading members are adjustably secured by bolts 11 to the setsupporting strips 12 which are adjustably supported at their ends onside 'members 12 A suitable directing member 13 extends longitudinallyof each grading roll directly above the axis thereof, and said membersare inclined transversely of the rolls for directing the fruit deliveredto the rolls toward the sizing member associated therewith, the

Patented Aug. 10, 1915. Application filed July 21,1914. Serial No852,250.

ceive the fruit graded by the respective sets of grading members. Thebins are formed with side walls 18 which slope downwardly toward eachother, and each bin is formed with an outlet opening 19.

Positioned below the respective outlets 19, to receive the graded fruitpassing therefrom, are the endless conveyer belts 20, 21, 22 and 23,operating at their-opposite ends over the respective pairs of drums 25,26, 27 and 28 carried by suitable shafts 29, 30, 31 and 32 and 32.

It will be apparent that the different sizes of fruit obtained will eachbe conveyed from the bins by a separate conveyer, and suitablereceptacles 38 receive the fruit discharged from the ends of theconveyers through the chutes 39, one of which is associated with eachreceptacle and extends to one of said conveyer belts.

Should the fruit passing along the set of grading rolls A be of a sizetoo large to pass between the rolls and the grading members associatedtherewith, the same will pass from the ends-of rolls 5 forming set A,and will be directed by the guides onto the upper ends of the rolls 5forming set B. If the fruit deposited on set E is too large to passbetween the rolls of set B- and the grading members associatedtherewith,

which are adjusted to a position a greater" distance from the rolls thanthose of set A, 3

the same will pass from the lower ends of the rolls of set B into asuitable receptacle 4:0.

I have provided an apparatus which is capable of separating a quantityof fruit into a plurality of grades or sizes each grade or size beingconveyed therefrom by an independent means, one occupying but littlespace, one in which the grading members are independently adjustable onthe supporting members, and in which the sup porting members areindependently adjustable relative to the supporting frame, so that asmall quantity of fruit slightly larger than the general run of fruitinto a certain bin'may be directed thereinto should it be desirable todo so.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the described character, the same comprising a set ofdownwardly inclined parallel-spaced separated grading rolls, a gradingplate extending longitudinally of each roll and therebetween, so as tooverlie one side thereof, said grading members being independentlyadjustable, and a support for a plurality of grading members, saidsupport being adjustable to permit simultaneous adjustment of saidplurality of grading members.

2. An apparatus of the described charac' ter, the same comprisingdownwardly indinally of and between each of said rolls and arranged in aset, means whereby the individual grading plates be adjusted relative tosaid directing members and to each other, means for rotating said rolls,and means beneath said rolls for receiving the fruit separated by eachset of grading members.

3. An apparatus of the described character, the same comprising aplurality of downwardly inclined parallel spaced grading rolls, a fruitdirecting member extending longitudinally above each of said rolls, saiddirecting members inclining transversely with the lower edge thereofsubstantially in contact with the rolls, a plu rality of gradingplatesextending longitudinally of and between each of said rolls andarranged in a set, said set of grading plates being adjustable relativeto the grading rolls. each plate being adjustable independently of theother and independent of the directing members, means for feeding fruitto the upper ends of said rolls, means for rotating said rolls, andmeans beneath said rolls for receiving the fruit separated by each setoi grading plates.

4. An apparatus of the described character, the same comprising aplurality of downwardly inclined parallel spaced grading rolls, a fruitdirecting member extending longitudinally above each of said rolls, aplurality of vertically extending grading places extendinglongitudinally of and between each of said rolls and arranged in a set.said plates being independent of said directing member, said set ofgrading plates being adjustable independently of each other relative tosaid directing members and grading rolls. means for feeding fruit to theupper ends of said rolls, a conveyor for receiving the fruit separatedby each set of grading plates, and a 'common means for rotating saidgrading rolls and for operating said conveyers.

5. An apparatus of the character described, the same comprising aplurality of downwardly inclined parallel spaced grading rolls, anormally stationary fruit directing member extending longitudinallyabove each of said rolls, and inclined with the lower edge substantiallyin contact with the periphery of the rolls, a vertically disposedgrading plate arranged to the side of each roll and extendingthereabove, and having an ofl'set flange at the upper edge thereof, asupporting member extending transversely relative to said gradingmembers, and an adjustable connection between said supporting member andgrading memers.

6. An apparatus of the character described, the same comprising aplurality of downwardly inclined parallel spaced grad ing rolls, anormally stationary fruit directing member extending longitudinallyabove each of said rolls and i. :lined with the lower edgesubstantiallyin contact with the periphery of the rolls, a verticallydisposed grading plate arranged to the side of each roll and extendingthereabove, and having an offset flange at the upper edge thereof, asupporting member extending transversely relative to said gradingmembers,

an adjustable connection between said "supporting member and gradingmembers, and

said grader members may be simultaneously adjusted with respect to therolls.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE D. PARKER.

WVitnesses:

L. E. Woon, HARRY A. TOTTEN.

